Controlling device.



F. D. HOWE.

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1908.

9 1 4,277 a Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

9 ATTORNEYS UNllTlllD STATES PATENT OFFllQE.

FRANK D. HOWE, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WALTHAM MFG.COMPANY, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CONTROLLING DE VICE Application filed February 1, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. March a, race.

Serial No. 418,781.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. HOWE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waltham, in the county 01 Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Im rovement in Gontrolling Devices, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to controlling devices; and. is particularly aplicable to foot levers or other controllers suc 1 as are used to governstarting and stopping mechanisms, brake mechanisms or the like in motorvehicles, or for analogous purposes in similar connections.

The invention consists in various features which will appear during thecourse of the succeeding description and will be defined in the appendedclaims.

The character of the invention maybe best understood by reference to aconcrete embodiment exhibited in the accompanying .drawings for purposesof illustration.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a practicableconstruction embodying this invention, showing one selected positionthereof and, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same construction showinga second position thereof.

The specific device selected for illustration comprises a foot lever 5adapted to be used as a controller for starting and stopping mechanism,brake mechanism or the like. The foot lever 5 is connected to thecontrolled mechanism, through the agency of a link 6; and for purposesof description it is assumed that the active control by the lever isexercised'by pulling the link 6 toward the right in Figs. 1 and 2. Thatis to say the resistance to the lever ofiered by the controlledmechanism acts as a pull on the link 6 in the direction of the arrow 7.The foot lever 5 is fulcrumed in any practicable manner at 8; and at itsupper end has a foot receiving pedal 9 .pivoted to the lever 5 at 10 topermit rocking of the pedal to suit the natural position of theoperators foot. The foot lever 5 is connected to the link 6 by atriangular or threearmed link or intermediate member 11 ivoted to thelever 5 at 12 and to said lint at 13. The lever 5 has a rigidlyconnected toe 14; a compression spring 15 is interposed between the toe14 and an abutment 16 pivoted at 17 to the link 11. V

A stationary toothed sector 20, supported in any suitable manner, enages by its teeth and looks a pawl 21 pivoted at 22 u on the foot lever5. Connected to the tai of the pawl is a plunger 24, appropriatelyseated in a socket 25 on the foot lever 5 and provided with acompression spring 26, which tends normally to "hold the pawl 21 inengagement with the teeth of the sector 20. The upper end of the plunger24 stands in position to be depressed for disengagin the pawl 21, by alug 27 on the pedal 9. A second lug on the pedal 9 may abut against astop 29 on the foot lever 5 to limit the movement of the pedal 9 aboutits pivot 10.

With the describedarrangement if the foot lever 5 be moved from theposition of Fig. 1 clockwise toward the position of Fig. 2, it will tendto pull the controllin link 6 toward the right; and if the latter bearrested or meet with material resistance to movement, the action of thefoot lever will tend to alinethe link 6 with the pivot 12. Underinactive conditions the link ivot 13 may rest against a stop lug 30 onthe lever 5; and in that position the resistant force acting upon thelink 6 has a certain leverage opposed to that of the lever 5. As thelink 6 approaches, however, alinement with the pivot 12 the point ofapplication of the resistant force to the lever 5, approaches nearer tothe fulcrum 8 of the latter with a resulting diminution in leveragefavorable to said resistant force. Thus if the link 6 be connected witha brake mechanism, for instance, the greater the resistance between thebrake and tire, the greater will be the effective leverage favorable tothe operator.

The compression spring 15 actin upon the link 11 throuh the pivot 17tends to rock the link 11 c ockwise on its pivot 12 and thereby to movethe controlling link 6 to the ri ht. As the latter approaches alinementwith the pivot 12 the compression of the spring 15 is increased with aresultant augmented force opposing the resistance of the controllinglink 6. By suitably correlating the various points of applicationexemplified by the pivots 12, 13 and 17, and spr" 15 link 6 and lever 5,any desired relation g pull or leverage may be obtained. A

As a result of the above indicated features of construction andarrangement, a relatively slight ressure applied to the edal 9 will begreat y. multiplled' as to its u timate effect -upon the controllinglink 6. The spring may serve to give a desirable elasticity in theconnection between the lever 5 and the controlling link 6, such thatvariations in the action or movement of one may be compensated for whileat the same time the movement of the other may continue unchanged.

It will be observed that the lever 5 when locked by its awl 21 and thetoothed sector 20, may be re eased by tilting the pedal 9 on its pivot,causing the lug 27 to depress the plunger 24 and rock the pawl 21 out ofengagement with the sector teeth. It is prered that the pedal 9 standalways at an angle convenient to the natural position of the operatorsfoot, as by bein always at the same angle to the horizonta accordingly,the illustrative mechanism shows the sector 20 constructed on a center31, offset from the fulcrum 8, about which the pawl pivot 22 movesduring the throw of the foot lever 5. The result of this construction isthat at the extreme throw of the foot lever shown in Fig. 2, the pawl 21has been rocked contra-clockwise from its initial position, whereby thelunger 24 is considerably elevated beyond its original osition relativeto the pedal 9, so as to hold t e latter at substantially tli e sameangle which it has when the lever 5' is in its inactive osition shown inFig. 1. It will be observe by comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 that the pedal9 in both figures occupies substantially the same relation to thenatural position of the drivers foot, so that the same movement upon hispart would unlock tlie pawl 22 in either case. The advantage andconvenience of this position will be apparent to those familiar withpedal mechanisms. 1

While the preceding description has sufficiently disclosedasinglepracticable embodiment of the invention with some of the advantageswhich may accrue from its use, it is to be understood that said specificembodiment and said advantages have been shown and described merely forpurposes of illustration; and the .sco e of the invention is by no meansessentia ly limited thereto. As will appear to those skllled in the artthe invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms difieringfrom this disclosure but which neverth less are included in the properscope of the invention. It is not indispensable that all the features ofthe invention be used conjointly since they are capable of useseparately to advantage.

Claim.

1. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the comblnationof a maincontrolllng member; a pedal device therefor;

locking means for said member; and unlockmg means governed bysubstantially uniand a connecting link device constituting the lever-andsai relation to said lever to increase age thereof during the operationof the mechform angular position of the pedal device irrespective of theposition of said member.

2. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member; a edal device therefor locking means forsai pedal device; and means to preserve substantially a uniforminclination 1n the (:perative position of said pedal device for iiferentpositions of said member.

3. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controllinglever a pedal device; a locking pawl connected to saidlever and operatively connected to said pedal device; a toothed sectorto cooperate with said pawl having its geometrical center s aced fromthe fulcrum of said lever, where by the pawl changes position relativeto the lever in accordance with diiierent ositions of the latter. s5

4. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member; and cooperating looking devices for saidmember one of which is movable and arranged to engage with the otheralong a line oblique to the path of movement. of the former, whereby oneof said members may be given a variable pedal governing action.

5. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member; a pedal device therefor; locking means forsaid memberi and means governed by the locking means to maintain desiredadjustment of the pedal device.

6. In controlling mechanlsm of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member, a connecting member connected to themechanism to be controlled, 1

connecting and power transmitting means between said members, anddifferentially movable with res ect to said connecting member and movale toward and from the point of support of the said main controllingmember.

7. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controllin member 5, a link 6, and an intermediate ink device,11, connecting said member 5 and link 6 and movable with relation to thesu ort of said member 5.

8. In contro l ing mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controllin lever to initiate the operation of the 0011- tro lingmechanism, a controlling member 6 connected to the mechanism to becontrolled, and means 0 eratively connected to said member and movablewith the leveranism. v

9. In controlling mechanism of the char-. acter described, thecombination of a main controlling lever;

a controlling link con- 130.

the latter, and a'uxiliarymeans to act uponv the said intermediatemember to oppose said alinement.

11. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member, a controlling link connected to themechanism to be controlled, a member intermediate said main controllingmember and said link and arranged to approach alinement with said linkupon movement of said main controlling member, and means to act uponsaid intermediate member with force increasing as the latter approachessaid alinement.

12. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member; a controlling, link; spring controlledmeans intermediate the same; means to lock said member in activeposition; and unlocking means having uniorm angular position fordifferent positions of said member.

13. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member; auxiliary power transmitting meanscooperating therewith; pedal means connected to said member; lockingmeans for said member to maintain the action of said auxiliary means andmeans for unlocking said member by movement of the pedal device whilemaintaining substantially the same angular position, irrespective of theosition of said member.

14. n controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controllin lever to initiate the operation of the contro lingmechanism, a controlling member connected to the mechanism to becontrolled, and yieldingly su ported connecting means for said lever anmember and constituting the power transmitting means therebetween.

15. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controlling lever, a controlling link connected to the mechanism tobe controlled, and

means constituting the connecting and ower transmitting means betweensaid ever and link and movable with relation to the lever during theapplication of ressurc thereto, to cause the point of ap licationthereto of the resistant force 0 the said link to move toward and fromthe fulcrum of the lever, said meansbeing diflerentially movable withrespect to said controllin link.

16. n a controlling mechanism of the character described, thecombination of a controlling lever a controlling member connected to themechanism to be controlled, an intermediate member connecting the sameand means for causing said intermediate member to move toward and fromthe fulcrum of the lever in the operation of said mechanism.

17 In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controlling lever; a controlling link; an intermediate linkconnecting the two; the point of connection of the controlling link andthe intermediate link being arranged to approach the fulcrum of saidlever during operation of the latter.

18. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controlling lever; a controlling link; an intermediate linkconnecting the two; the point of connection of the controlling link andthe intermediate link being arranged to approach the fulcrum of saidlever; and yielding means to oppose said a proach.

19. In contro ing mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controlling lever 5 havin a toe 14, a link 11 pivoted to thecontrol in lever, a compressionspring 15 interposed etween said toe 14and link 11, a link 6 connected to said link 11 and a pedal device foroperating said controllin lever 5. Y

20. n controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a controlling lever 5 having a stop lug 30, a link 11 pivoted to thelever 5 between its fulcrum and said sto lug, said lever having aportion projecting t erefrom adjacent its fulcrum, a compression spring15 interposed between and connected to said portion and said link 11, alink 6 pivotally connected to said link 11, and means for operating saidcontrolling lever 5.

21. In controlling mechanism of the character described, the combinationof a main controlling member, a connecting member connected to themechanism to be controlled, and intermediate connecting and powertransmitting means acting to transmit a lesser extent of movement tosaid connecting member than is imparted to said power transmitting meansfrom said main controllin member.

22. n controlling mechanism of the character described, thecombination'of a main controlling member, a connecting member connectedto the mechanism to be controlled, intermediate connecting and owertransmittng means acting to transmit a lesser extent of movement to saidconnecting member than is imparted to said power transmitting means fromsaid main controlling member, and a yielding medium opposing ting memberon its fulcrum and move the the movement of said power transmittingconnecting member to a difierent extent 15 means and offering inoperation augmente than the movement imparted to the power force to theresultant movement of said transmitting member, and a spring acting toconnecting member. "oppose movement of the power transmitting 23. Incontrollingv mechanism of the chari member on the controllin lever.

acter described, the combination of a con- In testimony whereof, l havesigned my 20 trolling lever, a power transmitting member name to thisspecification, in the presence fulcrumed thereon, a connecting member oftwo subsoribmg witnesses.

, jointed to said power transmitting member FRANK D. HOWE, and connectedto the mechanism to be con- 7 Witnesses: v trolled, the movement of thecontrolling LAWRENCE A. JANNEY,

lever serving to swing said power transmit- ROBERT H. KAMMLER.

